Sports
These Five MLB Bottom Feeders Are Already Pretty Much Eliminated From 2025 Playoffs
Sep 16, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (23) and second baseman Lenyn Sosa (50) head off the field after the final out of the ninth inning defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Major League Baseball’s exhibition schedule opened Thursday with the Chicago Cubs visiting the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. You know what this means, right?
It means we have enough of a sample size to mathematically eliminate at least five MLB teams from the 2025 World Series chase.
Now, you might say, hey, give these teams a few months to prove they don’t belong in a pennant race. And we’ll respond, hey, these teams had four months since the 2024 regular season ended to do ANYTHING to prove they’re interested in winning—and they basically chose not to.
The first team on our list is a gimme because the Chicago White Sox lost 121 games last year—the major league record since 1900.
When professional teams in the Windy City plunge past dreadful and inept and sink so deep they turn into jokes, they become known as “fun bad.” Sadly for Chicagoans, fun bad is about the only type of fun offered these days. Think Bulls, Hawks, Bears, etc. And nowhere is it funnier or badder than on the South Side.
Considering the Sox’s big move in the offseason was dealing ace starter Garrett Crochet to Boston for four prospects, their big free-agent acquisition was utility infielder Josh Rojas (1 year/$3.5 million!) and they’ll deal center fielder Luis Robert Jr. as soon as he has a hot fortnight; there’s a non-zero chance they threaten their own record for losses.
Realistically, the Sox are a decent bet to win at least 50 games because baseball is weird like that. But, last we checked, that’s still 35-40 wins shy of being a legit wild-card contender. So scratch them off the list. If you can find somebody willing to wager they won’t post 100-plus losses for the third year in a row, make that bet immediately.
Next up? The Colorado Rockies. Like the White Sox, the Rockies are a legitimate threat to lose 100-plus games for the third straight season.
Sep 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) celebrates with first baseman Michael Toglia (4) and second baseman Brendan Rodgers (7) after hitting a grand slam in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images If you’re wondering why, it’s because they’re stuck in a Catch-22. In general, they try not to make any moves to improve. But on the rare occasions when they convince themselves to take a big swing, they have an alarming tendency to miss like Javier Baez, which reinforces their desire to stand pat.
A prime example is Baez’ former Cubs teammate, Kris Bryant. Since signing a seven-year, $182 million deal prior to the 2022 season, Bryant’s injuries have limited him to 159 of a possible 486 games. But maybe his unavailability has been a good thing—because he has managed a -1.3 WAR when playing.
So perhaps we should be applauding Colorado’s offseason strategy to lay low in the mountains. After finishing 37 games out of first in the NL West and 28 wins below the wild-card teams last year, the Rockies’ boldest move to beef up their roster was acquiring utility infielder Thairo Estrada. Yes, the Thairo Estrada who batted .217 with a .590 OPS last year in San Francisco.
Shall we bother discussing the Miami Marlins? They lost 100 games last year, too. Fearful they might have the personnel not to do it again, they dispatched leading home-run hitter Jake Burger to Texas and traded intriguing lefty starter Jesus Luzardo to Philadelphia for four prospects.
Jul 6, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Dane Myers (54) is doused with Gatorade by catcher Ali Sanchez (47) as they celebrate their win against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara is back from Tommy John surgery and looking strong, so that will be a big plus—when Miami ships him out of town for more prospects. If the Marlins play their cards right, they might have a farm system ranked in the top half of MLB someday.
Apr 6, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) makes a leaping catch at the wall off a fly ball hit by Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (16) in the eighth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images It doesn’t seem fair to pick on the Los Angeles Angels, so we’re going to stay positive here while still insisting they won’t contend in the AL West this year. You’ve heard how badly third baseman Anthony Rendon’s seven-year, $245 million contract has worked out for the Angels, right?
Well, here’s the positive news: After being healthy enough to be in the Angels’ Opening Day lineup each of the last four years—only to play 57, 46, 42 and 56 more games the rest of the way due to multiple maladies—Rendon had the forethought to suffer this year’s big injury before spring training.
The Angels announced last week that Rendon required “long-term hip surgery” and will miss the season. While that’s bad for him, we choose to believe he deliberately sacrificed himself to the baseball gods—who have promised in exchange to allow Mike Trout to play a full season after being limited to 111 games the last two years.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (40) is bigger than ever, hoping to produce power numbers to match in 2025. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Who’s our fifth team mathematically eliminated? Sadly for the Best Fans In Baseball ™, it’s the St. Louis Cardinals. Given a choice between working hard to fill holes and contend or working hard to get maximum trade value for veterans like Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Ryan Helsley to accelerate the rebuilding process, the Cardinals have chosen atrophy.
In response, Cardinals fans have chosen apathy.
Here’s the Cards’ sole offseason trade: They stole Michael Helman, a 28-year-old utility player with 10 career major-league at-bats, from Minnesota for “cash considerations.”
Yeah, yeah, the offseason has been full of reports of their attempts to trade Nolan Arenado. Is that to try to win a pennant? Or try to save money?
Ah, the sound of dollars being sucked back into an owner’s bank vault. Now that’s the sweetest soundtrack of spring.
Sports
Reports: Red Sox trading LHP Connelly Early for INF Curtis Mead
Jun 25, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox are trading rookie left-hander Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, according to multiple reports on Saturday night.
The Red Sox reportedly are seeking help at shortstop ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline and were looking at Mead’s teammate, All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams. Boston’s Trevor Story, out since May 14, has played only 41 games because of a sports hernia.
Early, 24, hasn’t pitched since June 30, going on the injured list July 1 due to left elbow inflammation. The starting pitcher is expected to return in August.
Boston selected Early in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia.
Early is 7-5 this season with a 3.44 ERA, 34 walks and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings over 17 starts. He appeared in four games (all starts) last season and went 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA over 19 1/3 innings.
Mead, a 25-year-old native of Australia, is batting .254 with a .352 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage after going 0-for-3 with two walks and one run after playing third base in Washington’s 5-3 home win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. He has 17 home runs and 48 RBIs in 87 games.
Mead, who has played first, second and third base as well as designated hitter this season, is a career .244 hitter with 22 homers and 79 RBIs in 239 games for the Tampa Bay Rays (2023-25), Chicago White Sox (2025) and Nationals (2026).
He signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and was traded to the Rays in November 2019 for left-hander Cristopher Sanchez, who was selected to his second All-Star Game this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Felipe Mora goes out with a brace as Timbers edge Real Salt Lake
Jul 25, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers forward Felipe Mora (9) high-fives fans before a game against Real Salt Lake at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Felipe Mora, playing in what was announced as his final match with host Portland, scored twice in the second half as the Timbers defeated 10-man Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday night.
Goalkeeper James Pantemis made three saves for the Timbers (6-8-3, 21 points), who improved to 2-0-1 under interim head coach Jack Cassidy.
Juan Manuel Sanabria tallied for Salt Lake (8-6-2, 26 points) and Rafael Cabral made five saves.
RSL’s Victor Olatunji put the ball in the net from just inside the top of the penalty area in second-half stoppage time but was ruled offside.
Mora got the equalizer in the 56th minute off a corner kick from Ariel Lassiter on the right wing. Lassiter found Mora at the top of the 6-yard box and his header took one bounce off the turf and into the far upper corner of the net.
Mora scored again in the 67th minute off a left-wing corner from Kristoffer Velde. Mora’s glancing header from the top of the 6-yard box reached the far upper corner of the net.
Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy announced Friday this would be the final match for Mora, the third-leading goal scorer in franchise history with 48, but didn’t indicate where the native of Chile would be going.
Reports on Saturday indicated Mora, who scored the tying goal in second-half stoppage time in a 2-2 draw with visiting FC Dallas on Wednesday, would head back to Liga MX.
Mora came off for substitute Alexander Aravena in the 72nd minute to a raucous standing ovation from the crowd at Providence Park, with fans chanting his name for a couple of minutes.
RSL opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Sanabria played a nifty give-and-go with Morgan Guilavogui, getting the ball back at the top left of the penalty area. Sanabria dribbled toward the top of the 6-yard box before putting a low toe punch into the far side netting.
Guilavogui was ejected in the 31st minute for a foul on Jimer Fory after both players tumbled to the ground while battling for the ball along the sideline. Guilavogui seemed to kick Fory in the chest as he rolled over and was originally issued a yellow card by referee Elijio Arreguin, but a video review showed he made contact with Fory’s chin and it was upgraded to a red.
–Field Level Media
Sports
PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes
Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfield Nick Fernandez (20) and LA Galaxy midfield Lucas Sanabria (8) battle for the ball during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images James Marcinkowski saved a penalty shot five minutes into extra time as the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy preserved a 1-1 tie against the San Jose Earthquakes in the latest installment of the California Clasico rivalry at Stanford, Calif.
Marcinkowski, who is in his second season with the Galaxy after five seasons with the Earthquakes, made a dive to his left to stop a shot from the spot by the Earthquakes’ Timo Werner. Marcinkowski finished with five saves.
Joseph Paintsil scored a goal in the first half for Los Angeles (5-7-6, 21 points), who earned a point for the first time in three matches since the World Cup break ended.
Reid Roberts scored a goal in the 62nd minute for the Earthquakes (10-4-3, 33 points), who were unable to convert the go-ahead goal late in the match after Ousseni Bouda earned a penalty on a foul from Marcinkowski.
Angus Gunn, who played for Scotland in the World Cup, made one save in his second match since joining San Jose during the break.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 13th minute when 19-year-old Harbor Miller took the ball up the right side and found Marco Reus in the middle of the field. Reus sent Paintsil forward on a breakaway and the forward slid home his fourth goal of the season.
The Earthquakes got even in the 62nd minute after the Galaxy nearly coughed up an own goal on a clearance header that clanked off the crossbar.
The rebound came to the feet of San Jose’s Benji Kikanovich, who fired a shot that was knocked down in the penalty area. Roberts cleaned up a loose ball on the goal line for his second tally of the season.
Paintsil nearly gave Los Angeles the lead in the 83rd minute before Gunn used his right hand to swat away a shot headed toward the upper right corner of the goal.
While the Galaxy were without defenders Jakob Glesnes (yellow-card accumulation) and Emiro Garces (red card on Wednesday), the Earthquakes were without forward Preston Judd (yellow-card accumulation).
–Field Level Media
Reports: Red Sox trading LHP Connelly Early for INF Curtis Mead
Felipe Mora goes out with a brace as Timbers edge Real Salt Lake
